Patents by Inventor Wilbur W. Cottle

Wilbur W. Cottle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Gyro stabilized optics with fixed detector
    Patent number: 4949917
    Abstract: A cannon launched guided projectile having a gyro based electro-optical target finding and guidance system which includes an optical system carried by a gyro to provide target location information for an electronic system to produce gyro rotor torquing signals and for producing projectile guidance signals from gyro pickoff outputs is disclosed. The electronics system includes two difference channels for processing pitch and yaw signals responsive to the electrical output of a light detector and a sum channel for controlling the two difference channels responsive to target acquisition and master trigger signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1972
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Cottle, Jr., Lilburn R. Smith
  • Dual field of view catadioptric optical system
    Patent number: 4877317
    Abstract: A dual field of view catadioptric optical system is disclosed which includes a narrow field of view (FOV) and a wide FOV. The narrow field of view includes an apertured stationary primary reflector and a secondary reflector which may be pivoted into a common optical path for blocking radiant energy for the wide field of view during operation in the narrow field of view and pivoted out of the common optical path for operation in the wide field of view. In another embodiment, the secondary reflector is replaced by a transparent/reflector which is always located in the common optical path. The element is transparent to radiant energy until heated at which time it becomes reflective. Thus, when transparent, the system operates in the wide field of view mode and when reflective, the system operates in the narrow field of view mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert C. Gibbons, Wilbur W. Cottle
  • Gyro stabilized optics with fixed detector
    Patent number: 4500051
    Abstract: A cannon launched guided projectile having a gyro based electro-optical target finding and guidance system which includes an optical system carried by a gyro to provide target location information for an electronic system to produce gyro rotor torquing signals and for producing projectile guidance signals from gyro pickoff outputs is disclosed. The electronics system includes two difference channels for processing pitch and yaw signals responsive to the electrical output of a light detector and a sum channel for controlling the two difference channels responsive to target acquisition and master trigger signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Cottle, Jr., Lilburn R. Smith